Fix Auto pushes national conference back to 2022

Fix Auto UK has postponed its two-day national conference from 8-9 March 2021 until next year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision to move the event to 2-3 March 2022 has been made to ensure the safety of franchise partners, team members, event sponsors and industry guests along with all involved in making the event a success.

This will be the second time the pandemic has caused a delay in the event, which was originally scheduled to take place in October 2020.

Fix Auto UK said in a statement: “While no one knows what the future will allow, the network believes the decision to move its National Conference to March 2022 will provide all with total clarity as to when, and not if, the event will be held.”

Fix Auto marketing manager Milly Bartholomew added: “We are all optimistic the worst days of the pandemic are behind us but there is still a lot of uncertainty attached to holding an event of this size in 2021, particularly with the on-going social distancing restrictions which would impact the networking opportunities available to delegates at our event.

“It was important to consider the possible health risk to delegates and whether people would feel comfortable attending this type of event later this year even if it is allowed, so we made the decision that it was best to postpone until March 2022.

“We also wanted to be sure we could deliver an event that meets our usual impeccably high standards and so this gives us the best possible chance of producing the event at the Vox Conference Centre [in Birmingham] exactly how we first envisaged it, without the safety worries and uncertainty for delegates.

“We have been working behind the scenes for the past few months to rearrange the event and I am glad all the brilliant keynote speakers were able to accommodate the new date along with all the entertainment and networking events that were planned,” Bartholomew added

Ian Pugh, Fix Auto UK’s managing director, said: “Obviously the Fix Auto UK National Conference is an annual highlight for not just those of us at Fix Auto UK but also our delegates, sponsor partners and industry guests so it is disappointing that we had to rearrange the event again. However, the safety of everyone is our priority and I am optimistic that by next March we will be able to deliver one of our stand-out events, which our delegates will be able to attend safely. I am certain the event will be worth the wait and it will be a fantastic moment when we are all back together again next March. I am counting down the days already.”